Pocket-closer.



PATENTED FEB. 19, 1907.

amen tow TS/am wans k/ THOMAS SLACKOWSKI, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

POCKET=CLOSER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1907.

Application fi1edJ'u11e'8,1906. Serial No. 320,790.

To a/Zl- 112720121, it TIT/(Ly concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS SLACKOWSKI, a citizen ol' the United States, residlng at Bay City, in the county of Bay, State of Michi- I gan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pocket-Closers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide such improvements in pocket-closers as will operate to keep the pocket closed against being surreptitiously opened on the person without detection and against liability to accidentally lose the contents thereof.

The invention consists of lengths of wire so bent and formed as to extend around the borders of the pocket and to resiliently keep the open edges together in a novel and pe-. culiar, as well as highly-efficient manner, all as I will now proceed to describe in detail, having reference to the annexed drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of the inven tion complete, as it will stand when con nected to the pocket of a garment. Fig. 2 represents an outside breast-pocket of a coat to which the invention is applied.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention comprises two yoke-shaped members 5 and 6, the member 5 being somewhat smaller than the member 6 to lie therewithin, and each member comprises parallel legs 7 and a connecting-bight 8, extending at right angles thereto. The legs of the member 6 are bent at their lower ends into a plurality of mutually-engaging helices to form horizontallyalining eyes 9, and the lower end portions 01. the legs of the member 5 are turned outwardly at right angles, as shown at 10, and engaged in these eyes 9, be yond which the legs of the member 5 are turned upwardly and inwardly, as shown at 11, and soldered or otherwise secured to the legs of the member 6. The two members lie normally with their legs 7 in parallel spaced relation, as shown, and in use the members are disposed within a pocket, the member 5 being secured to the forward portion of the pocket, while the member 6 is secured to the inner portion thereof, the eyes 9 lying in the lower corners of the pocket, as shown. It will thus be seen that the pocket will be held normally closed; but the member 5 may have its connecting portion 8 moved outwardly to permit access to the pocket, this iovement placing torsional stress upon the portions 10 of the member, so that when this member is released it will be returned to its normal position to hold the pocket closed.

As shown, one or both of the connecting portions 8 may beprovided with otl'set portions 12 to accommodate the watch-chain or pencil.

As shown in the drawings, each member 5 and 6 may be composed of two pieces of wire A, connected by means of sleeves B at the centers of the portions 8.

It is to be noted that the lower ends of the members 5 and 6 are so connected and se cured that they are not liable to become displaced in use, which is an important feature of the invention.

IVhat is claimed is A pocket-closer consisting of major and minor members each comprising side legs and a connecting top portion, the extremities of the legs of the major member being bent into coils to form. eyes, and the end portions of I the minor member being turned outwardly through the said eyes to form a pivotal connection between the two members, and the extremities of the said outwardly-turned portions being turned upwardly and permanently attached to the legs of the major i-rember above the eyes, whereby the ends of the members are secured against liability of displacen'ient and the said members are acted upon resiliently with a tendency to keep the pocket normally closed.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SLACKOIVSKI. Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. SMALL, PETER NIEOLZIELSKI. 

